2026 NHL Free Agency — Top 10 Defensemen

Is your favorite team in need of an upgrade on defense? Well, you’re in luck (sort of). This free-agent class is far from the deepest on defense, but there are a few intriguing names who could be available on July 1. Let’s look at the top 10 UFA defensemen who could be available in two weeks.

Nick Blankenburg

Nick Blankenburg is one of the more interesting defensemen heading toward free agency. He’s undersized at 5-foot-9, 177 pounds, which will surely scare off some GMs, but he looks like one of the better depth defenders in this year’s class.

Blankenburg finished with 24 points in 61 games between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. He totaled an expected goals share (xG%) of 55.1 percent and is an effective puck-mover from the back end. He can get outmuscled on retrievals, but he can thrive if placed in the right role and environment.

Evolving Hockey has Blankenburg projected for a one-year, $1.473 million deal. That would be an absolute bargain for him, but it wouldn’t shock me if he gets some term and a bit more pay. Even if that’s the case, he’s the ideal bottom-pair defender and would be a savvy target for most teams.

Brent Burns

Brent Burns doesn’t seem to age, does he? He may not be the top-pair defenseman he once was, but he’s still an effective bottom-pair defender. He finished with 12 goals and 35 points in 82 games for the Avalanche, and his underlying metrics were excellent.

Even at 41, Burns still impressed at five-on-five. He finished with an xG% of 56.41 percent, and the Avalanche outscored their opponents 74-45 with him on the ice. They were a near-perfect fit for Burns, so he might not put up those numbers in a different environment, but teams shouldn’t shy away from him because of his age.

Evolving Hockey has Burns projected for a three-year deal at a cap hit of $5.404 million. I would be very surprised if a team gave him three years at his age, but on a one-year flyer? He can certainly help a team that needs to upgrade its bottom pair.

Ryan Shea

The Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the biggest surprises of the 2025-26 season, and that was because players like Ryan Shea had breakout years. He finished with six goals and 35 points in 80 games and posted some solid underlying metrics while largely playing a top-four role.

Shea finished with an xG% of 51.2 percent, and the Penguins outscored their opponents 77-55 with him on the ice at five-on-five. His strengths lie in his mobility. He can transition the puck effectively out of the defensive zone and through the neutral zone, and he’s an excellent passer.

I wouldn’t sign Shea to play in a shutdown role, but he can provide some offensive ability from the back end. Evolving Hockey projects a three-year deal at a cap hit of $3.946 million for Shea. There’s some risk in that because he doesn’t have the strongest résumé outside of this season, but he might be worth the risk if a team needs a No. 4 or 5 defenseman.

Jamie Oleksiak

Jamie Oleksiak is not the most offensively gifted defenseman in the NHL, but he’s one of the better stay-at-home defenders. He finished with an xG% of just 46.66 percent, but most of his other underlying metrics were solid, especially defensively.

The Kraken allowed just 2.47 expected goals per 60 minutes when Oleksiak was on the ice, the third-best rate among Kraken skaters. He’s one of the best rush defenders in the NHL, and he excels on retrievals, which shouldn’t be a surprise, given his 6-foot-7, 257-pound frame.

Despite the lack of offensive ability, Oleksiak should be in demand as a UFA. Evolving Hockey projects a three-year deal and a cap hit of $3.202 million for Oleksiak. Given his size and style of play, he’ll likely have more than a few suitors.

Brett Kulak

Brett Kulak had an up-and-down year, but he also played on three teams: the Edmonton Oilers, the Penguins, and the Avalanche. Historically speaking, he’s been one of the better defensive defensemen in the NHL, but it can be difficult to get into a rhythm when bouncing around from team to team.

Kulak struggled to defend the rush and was ineffective at cleanly breaking out of the defensive zone. How much of that was because he played on two poor defensive teams (Oilers and Penguins), or how much of it was due to a decline in his play?

Evolving Hockey projects a four-year deal and a cap hit of $4.09 million for Kulak. I’d have some pause about handing out such a contract to him, but if his 2025-26 season was just a one-off, he may be worth that price.

Connor Murphy

Like Oleksiak and Kulak, Murphy is not the most gifted offensively, but he defends quite well. Even on a Chicago Blackhawks team that bled shots and chances, the Blackhawks allowed just 2.37 expected goals per 60 minutes in Murphy’s five-on-five minutes.

That led the Edmonton Oilers to acquire Murphy at the trade deadline. His strong defensive results continued with the Oilers, as he allowed just 2.47 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. He handled tough minutes with both teams, and his strong defensive results extend over the last three seasons, not just 2025-26.

Evolving Hockey projects a one-year, $2.516 million deal for Murphy. That would be a steal for what he offers, but I’d be surprised if he didn’t get some term, perhaps around three to four years. Even then, he’s one of the better defensive defensemen in the game and would be worth a mid-term contract.

Jacob Trouba

Sometimes, a change of scenery can benefit a player. Jacob Trouba played some solid hockey in his time with the Anaheim Ducks after they acquired him from the New York Rangers nearly two years ago. He finished the 2025-26 season with 10 goals and 35 points in 81 games while playing a top-four role.

Trouba is still a solid rush defender and passer. He has some offensive ability in the offensive zone, specifically as a shooter, and he hasn’t shied away from playing his signature physical game. Would I want him playing a top-pair role against elite competition on a nightly basis? Probably not, but he’s still an effective No. 3 or 4 defender.

Here’s the problem, though. Evolving Hockey projects a seven-year contract and cap hit of $7.227 million for Trouba. That has the potential to be one of the worst contracts handed out in free agency if a team is willing to go there. He’s still an effective top-four defender, but at 32, a seven-year deal is likely to age poorly. A mid-term contract would be acceptable, but tread carefully with anything beyond four to five years.

Rasmus Andersson

Rasmus Andersson is a bit of an enigma. He struggled early this season, but a trade to the Vegas Golden Knights seemed to help him. He totaled 17 goals and 47 points in 81 games between the Calgary Flames and Golden Knights, and his underlying metrics noticeably improved in Vegas.

Anderson totaled an xG% of 55.87 percent in 30 games with the Golden Knights. He had a negative goal differential, but that was mostly because Golden Knights goalies couldn’t stop a beach ball. He’s still a threat in the offensive zone, and he can stretch the ice with his passing ability. He’s not a particularly great rush defender, and I’d be wary if playing him in more than a second-pair role moving forward.

Because the market is what it is, Andersson could be in for a massive payday in free agency. Evolving Hockey projects a seven-year deal and whopping cap hit of $9.013 million for Andersson. That’s top-pair money, and I would just not pay him as a No. 1 defender. It’ll be interesting to see if that market materializes or if he’ll have to settle for something less.

Darren Raddysh

Talk about a breakout season. Darren Raddysh had the season of his life, and it seemingly came out of nowhere. He totaled 22 goals and 70 points in 78 games, smashing a previous career-high of 37 points he set last season.

Was Raddysh’s season a fluke? He shot 10.4 percent, which is a high number for a defenseman and above his career average of 7.8 percent. Still, his microstats profile was excellent. He’s an effective shooter, passer, rush defender, and excels in transition:

I probably wouldn’t expect 22 goals and 70 points from Raddysh again, but he seems like a pretty capable second-pair defender at worst. Still, he projects for quite the payday this summer. Evolving Hockey predicts a seven-year deal and cap hit of $8.071 million for Raddysh.

There’s quite a bit of risk in that because he doesn’t have the résumé, and he’s already on the wrong side of 30. Like Andersson, it’ll be interesting to see whether that market materializes for Raddysh and whether teams feel he can be something like a 50- to 55-point defender moving forward.

John Carlson

John Carlson may be in his mid-30s, but he’s still one of the best offensive defenseman in the NHL. He finished this season with 14 goals and 60 points in 71 games between the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals. His defensive game has fallen off a bit, but there’s still plenty to like about his game.

Carlson made a significant difference for the Ducks after they acquired him from the Capitals. He totaled an xG% of 58.18 percent and helped stabilize a defensive unit that struggled at five-on-five. Carlson still excels as a puck carrier and passer and can help any team that’s looking for more offensive ability on the back end.

Because of his age, Evolving Hockey projects just a three-year deal for Carlson. Pierre LeBrun already reported he’s testing the market, and teams will likely line up for him, even if it costs $8.954 million per year, per Evolving Hockey’s projection. He’s easily the best defenseman in this year’s class.

Carlson may be the only true star defenseman in free agency, but there are some interesting names in the top 10. It’ll all come down to price, but some teams may be able to find what they’re looking for this offseason.

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